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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Firm suspends Irish League bets | Firm suspends Irish League bets |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Betting on all Irish League games, besides those involving Linfield and Glentoran, has been suspended by one of the UK's leading bookmakers. | Betting on all Irish League games, besides those involving Linfield and Glentoran, has been suspended by one of the UK's leading bookmakers. |
| Paddy Power said there had been an unusually high number of bets placed on teams which had no chance of winning the league title. | Paddy Power said there had been an unusually high number of bets placed on teams which had no chance of winning the league title. |
| "This isn't necessarily something sinister," said the bookmaker. | "This isn't necessarily something sinister," said the bookmaker. |
| "People on the ground might know that a key player is or isn't playing or something as simple as that." | "People on the ground might know that a key player is or isn't playing or something as simple as that." |
| Mr Power said that his company would not resume betting on the bulk of Irish League sides until the start of the new season. | Mr Power said that his company would not resume betting on the bulk of Irish League sides until the start of the new season. |
| "This also happens in relation to the lower English divisions and in Italy as well," he continued. | "This also happens in relation to the lower English divisions and in Italy as well," he continued. |
| "Things just aren't as competitive at this time of year and we're therefore not willing to take the same risk. | "Things just aren't as competitive at this time of year and we're therefore not willing to take the same risk. |
| "Teams often field younger players, might not be training fully or might even play after a night out." | "Teams often field younger players, might not be training fully or might even play after a night out." |
| We could take the line that teams can be told before kick-off tomorrow that we are aware of the situation and just to be watching their step IFA President Raymond Kennedy | We could take the line that teams can be told before kick-off tomorrow that we are aware of the situation and just to be watching their step IFA President Raymond Kennedy |
| A spokesman for Belfast-based bookmakers Toals, which is still taking bets on all Irish League games, said there had been "very, very unusual" betting in relation to Glenavon, Dungannon and Newry City. | A spokesman for Belfast-based bookmakers Toals, which is still taking bets on all Irish League games, said there had been "very, very unusual" betting in relation to Glenavon, Dungannon and Newry City. |
| He said that money continued to be placed on a 'treble' bet for all three sides to win despite the odds being slashed from 16-1 to 4-1. | He said that money continued to be placed on a 'treble' bet for all three sides to win despite the odds being slashed from 16-1 to 4-1. |
| Raymond Kennedy, who is president of the Irish Football Association, said the betting patterns suggested that "there must be something going on". | |
| "We could take the line that teams can be told before kick-off tomorrow that we are aware of the situation and just to be watching their step." | "We could take the line that teams can be told before kick-off tomorrow that we are aware of the situation and just to be watching their step." |